Researchers Add Intricate Color to 3D-Printed Creations

The term computational hydrographic printing is one that is bound to become somewhat of common -- at least in the 3D printing industry. It is an innovative way to add intricate color to 3D printed objects. In this case, these creations involve a slew of wild animals. What appears to be a simple process of dipping the objects into a pool of water is much more complex than that in reality.

Developed by researchers from Hangzhou's Zheijiang University and NYC's Columbia University, computational hydrographic printing involves a few steps. Fast Co Design writes, "Essentially, what they do is 3-D scan whatever object they want to print on before they dunk it. Algorithms then take whatever pattern you want to paint on it, and print it on the layer of transparent film in such a way that, when lowered into the water bath by a robotic arm, the pattern will be applied perfectly, every time."